Background Checks on Educators and Non-teaching Staff of Kindergartens, Preschools and Early Childhood Education Centres

Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what kinds of background safeguarding checks are done by the Ministry or its agencies for all school educators and non-teaching staff who work in kindergartens, preschools and other early childhood education centres.

Preschool operators have to apply to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to obtain approval for all staff, including non-teaching staff, whom they wish to deploy to work in a preschool. As part of our review of such applications, ECDA will conduct checks to assess that the individual does not pose a risk to children's safety or has been barred from working in a preschool. Individuals must also complete a self-declaration form on any prior offences committed and warnings issued by ECDA or the Police.

Individuals seeking employment in preschools must also submit a pre-employment medical report that certifies them to be fit for work in a preschool. This includes a compulsory declaration of whether they have a history of psychiatric conditions. If so declared, the individual must obtain certification from a medical practitioner that he or she is suitable to work with young children.

As employers, preschools have their own procedures to recruit suitable staff to work with or around children, such as interviews and reference checks.